What is high altitude, exactly?

Well, high altitude for you depends on where your home is!If you
fly into Denver from sea level, you might be more susceptible to
problems with the mile high elevation. However, If you are visiting in
the mountains and are used to a little altitude, say 4,000 feet above sea level (about
1,219 meters,) then chances are your body will acclimate somewhat faster
and you’ll have fewer issues with altitude sickness.

The
altitude in Colorado and the mountain regions usually presents no
problems for visitors from lower altitudes. With a little common sense, the vast majority of
tourists and visitors who come here are fine with Colorado’s elevation.

And, with some easy, preventive strategies, your pleasant tour vacation will not be interrupted at all.

Did you know that Colorado is the highest state in the USA?

Denver5,280 feet above sea level

Colorado54 mountains over 14,000 feet above sea level

"The Mile High City" has 17% less oxygen than
do cities at sea level! So, if you land in Denver and feel a little breathless,
it might just be the spectacular scenery! Or, you might experience some
symptoms of altitude sickness. You could feel a little dizzy, lightheaded, or maybe have a slight headache. Happily, most folks don’t
even notice any problems with elevation, and there are ways to prepare
for and prevent problems with altitude, even before you step off that
airplane at Denver International Airport, or disembark from your
motorcoach.That's why the locals keep reminding you to hydrate ... drink that water! Susceptibility to altitude sickness doesn't seem to
be related to specific factors, like physical condition or age, or even
the altitude level or elevation at home. Some folks just get it and some don’t! Travelers
might have mild symptoms at 5,280 feet (about 1,609 meters) above sea
level, as well as at altitudes of 10,00 feet (3,048 meters) and higher.
Giving yourself or your group a little time to acclimatize before
heading up to higher altitudes is a good idea. After a day or two and a good night’s sleep you should ready to go!

What Causes Altitude Sickness?

Okay—here’s a little science on the whole topic.Essentially,
because barometric pressure decreases as altitude increases, every
breath you take at higher elevations has fewer oxygen molecules than the
same breath taken at sea level.In order for your body to adjust
to having less oxygen, your respiration and pressure in the pulmonary
arteries will increase and your body will produce more red blood cells
to carry oxygen. Some peoples’ bodies adjust to this change easier and
faster than others.

What Are The Symptoms?

Altitude Sickness, also known as Acute Mountain
Sickness (AMS) usually develops gradually. If you pay attention and
manage any symptoms properly, it can be avoided altogether. The
symptoms ease after about two days, but if they don’t, it is essential
that you don’t ascend to an even higher elevation. In rare cases, there
is supplemental oxygen available. At the summit of Rocky Mountain National Park, for
instance, there are trained staff who will administer an oxygen
treatment. Please remember, however, that in all the
years our Colorado Tour Guides and A Guide Out West have accompanied
individuals and groups to the high country, we have NEVER lost
anyone or needed emergency help. We take it slow, follow a few easy
rules about adjusting to the altitude, and keep an eye on any symptoms
that may occur. Here is what you need to know about watching for symptoms, which may include:headache, nausea and/or vomiting, dizziness, feeling especially tired, insomnia or difficulty
sleeping, loss of appetite, shortness of breath and/or racing heartbeat.

How can you prepare and prevent altitude sickness?

First of all, you don’t need A Guide Out West to tell you that a
little common sense about high altitude goes a long way. Adjusting to
elevation is actually fairly easy and there are lots of helpful things
you can do.

Our best advice to travelers is to just TAKE IT SLOW!
Take it easy!

If you over-exert yourself during the first day or so of
your visit, you might feel very tired and sluggish, which keeps you from
having that great vacation you have anticipated.

And, our second-best advice is to keep hydrated!

Since fluid loss
contributes to acclimatization problems, just keep in mind that
drinking extra fluids while at altitude and staying properly hydrated is
almost like magic!Sometimes our passengers report that they have had plenty of fluids … whiskey, and martinis and our famous Colorado beers!

Nope. Doesn't work that way.

Very funny, but thinking that any fluids will help with those pesky high altitude symptoms, is incorrect, nor is it very wise.Many
medical professionals believe that water, and only water, really does
the trick, and that is our experience, too. We make it a practice to
always carry bottled water onboard our motorcoach tours and we urge our
passengers to sip and stay hydrated throughout the day.We know …
4 quarts (3.8 liters) of water every day sounds like a lot, but you’ll
be happy that you have followed our advice when you feel great and you
are ready to roll. Keep in mind that Denver is not really "in the
mountains." It's considered to be “high desert” and like most other
deserts, it is extremely dry, with very low humidity.

That’s why you see so many locals carrying water around with them, in bags, purses, briefcases, backpacks and ski jackets!

Once you arrive in Denver or Coloradoit’s really very easy to adjustto our high altitude!

The Top Ten Tips

Remember
to take it slow! Give you body a chance to have a great time in
Colorado! The vast majority of our visitors and passengers never even
have a problem with high altitude.

Alcohol
definitely does not help and a hangover at high altitude can be awful!
Smoking doesn’t feel too good at altitude, either. Try limiting it if
possible.

If
you feel a little dizzy or light-headed, just rest for a few minutes
and put your head down between your knees. Tell your Tour Guide
immediately if you are experiencing symptoms you believe to be serious.

If symptoms increase despite your best efforts, you may need to quickly descend to a lower altitude.

Like Granny used to say, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!”

And
finally here is our personal favorite ... add some calories to your normal
diet, especially some carbohydrates. Yep! Many athletes who come to the
high country swear by some Fettuccine Alfredo or a big plate of pasta
the night before their sports event! We
don’t know if that really works, but here’s your chance to indulge in
some “vacation food” that will actually make you feel great! Don’t
worry, you’ll be walking a lot and jumping on and off the motorcoach at
photo stops, which will take care of those extra calories.

Remember
that the risk of sunburn is increased at high altitude, so make sure
you have sunscreen, lip balm and sunglasses. Moisturizing lotion is a
must!

Okay, it’s really only Our Nine Best Tips …... must be all that water we've been sippin' lately.

Please Note: Information about high altitude sickness prevention when
traveling to Colorado and the western states does not in any way replace
the advice of qualified medical professionals.Check with your own
medical professional prior to your vacation regarding your personal
medications/prescriptions. Physicians sometime prescribe high-altitude
drugs, but they are usually for those who ascend to extremely high
altitudes, such as on a mountain climbing expedition or when trekking.A Guide Out West disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this high altitude information.Return to Home Page from "About the Altitude"